Work related injuries are those sustained when a person was doing something for the benefit of her employer. These injuries invariably result in worker’s compensation claims, however, often times the injury is also the result of a third party, such as the manufacturer of workplace equipment or a contractor.  The injury may be acute, such as a cut or burn, or it may be a longer-term illness, such as one caused by exposure to asbestos. Since most Americans spend between 40 and 50 percent of their waking hours at work, hundreds of thousands of work related injuries occur every year. David A. Axelrod & Associates represents people who were seriously injured due to a third party while performing a job duty.

Examples of Work Related Injuries

There are a myriad of situations in which employees suffer work related injuries and may be entitled to relief, such as:

• When work equipment malfunctions and causes the employee an injury
• When an employee is performing a normal job duty but, due to a mishap, suffers a serious injury such as falling off a roof or down stairs
• When an auto accident occurs while the employee was traveling in connection with work, usually to a remote meeting or job site, outside the course of a daily commute
• When an employee suffers an injury and her employer encourages her not to seek medical treatment beyond first aid and, as a result, the injury worsens

Damages for Work Related Injuries

Most damages for work related injuries are focused on a theory of negligence, with the injured employee arguing that her employer did something to put her in danger or failed to do something that would have prevented the injury. Economic damages can compensate the injured employee for her temporary or permanent disability by way of present and future lost income, pain and suffering, and medical costs.

Fatal Work Related Injuries

The most common fatal work related injuries are a result of fires or explosions, but there are many other instances in which work related injuries could result in death. When this happens, the surviving family members may be entitled to bring a wrongful death suit against the employer. Through a wrongful death suit, the family can seek compensation for the loss of income their deceased family member would have provided. Spouses may also ask for compensation for loss of companionship and consortium.